As you already know, these little but amazing felines have a different reputation in the animal kingdom because of their serious faces and superior attitude, but this is just a stereotype. In real life, things are totally different and if you are a cat owner you know that. But, nevertheless, cats are quite difficult to read, because their body language can be strange sometimes and misleading.
For instance, the difference between cats and dogs is that, while you know that your dog loves you because they are happy when you come back home, kisses you and jumps around to show you how overjoyed they are, cats bring you dead animals… Well, it seems that the message is the same, whether we are talking about cats or dogs, but they have different ways of telling you this. We have to admit that cats have their own ways of communicating their love ad affection, but you just have to pay attention to their behavior to understand.
During the self isolation, you will probably spend more time with your pet than before and now it is time to focus more on their behavior. So, even though our beloved felines do some strange or gross things sometimes it does not mean that they not showing you affection, because these signs may show that they feel really comfortable around you.
“As much as we like to think we are the be-all and end-all of our cats’ lives, this is not the case. More often than not, a behavior the cat displays has little to do with humans and a lot to do with a cat’s innate behavior patterns and ethology,” said Daniel Cummings, the behavior manager at Cats Protection.
In cat talk, tiny hints have big meanings, so here are some signs that your cat actually loves you, according to animal experts! Read on for more and enjoy it!
They knead your legs
If your cat gives your leg a mini massage or it looks like it is making cookies it means that it kneads. Kneading is also common in newborn kittens and you will see this when they squeeze their mother for more milk.
Well, if your adult cat kneads your legs then it means that it tries to say ‘I love you, human!’ Even though there are a lot of stereotypes about cats, it does not mean that they are true, because they have a lot of things to say to us, such as “I really like you” or ‘I feel comfortable around you’.
According to PetMD, “If your cat is curled up and kneading your lap while you’re petting him, he’s returning the affection and telling you he loves you right back. Unfortunately, this can be quite painful, since the happier he is, the harder he’ll dig in with his sharp claws.” You can ease the painful part by “placing a thick, soft barrier between the cat and your lap.”
“This behavior has a habit of sticking around as a source of comfort and relaxation, and it may even be a sign of affection and bonding with you. A cat may exhibit this behavior because it sees you as its mother, authority figure or it’s the cat’s way of saying, ‘I trust you,'” said pet behavior researcher, Gayle Hickman.
Your cat brings you presents
There is speculation that cats bring freshly killed animals to their owners because they want to show them affection and appreciation. This is their nice way of telling you that they like and cherish you for all your attention and care.
“Cats love with gifting. Mighty hunter cats that catch everything from toys to bugs, mice or frogs, often share the bounty with those they love. Kitties who present you with this bounty deserve praise. They wouldn’t bring these special gifts if they didn’t love you,” said certified Animal Behavior Consultant, Amy Shojai.
“Cats have retained this behavior from their most recent wild ancestor, the African Wildcat. Some cats also display the hunting behavior but have no instinct to eat the prey. They just catch what is moving and carry it around, then at some point (usually in the house), they drop it. If your cat is caching prey in your house, clearly they feel safe and secure enough in the house and their territory,” said Cummings.
“Many people think that these ‘gifts’ are for the owner, but cats actually bring them home to where they feel secure. It’s a sign that they feel safe with you,” explains Nicky Trevorrow, behavior manager for Cats Protection.
They headbutt you
If your cat headbutts you, blinks slowly while maintaining eye contact and rubs around your legs it means that it loves you and feels really comfortable in your house. The truth is that all animals have their own ways of showing affection and even humans express their emotions in different ways.
“Cats have secret glands concentrated on certain parts of their bodies, including their cheeks and heads. When your kitty rubs her head or face against you, she’s marking you with her scent and claiming you as part of her family group. This scent is a source of both comfort and familiarity for your kitty,” said Mother Nature Network.
“Butting is a cat’s communication method of showing affection for others. By rubbing this body part against one of yours, she is identifying you as one of her friends,” said Hickman.
You are really lucky if you have a pet these days, especially during the coronavirus self isolation. They actually help you lower the level of stress and anxiety. In addition, if you do not have a pet yet, but you want to adopt one, you better opt for shelter animals because not only will you save a life, but you will both be happier. Shelter animals really need you and your affection.
They adore staring into your eyes
Well, if you cat stares at you and blinks slowly it means that it tries to communicate its affection. “This might be the display of cat love that is easiest for humans to understand. If your kitty first stares at you, then blinks, then opens his eyes wide, then slowly blinks a second time, he’s telling you he loves and trusts you. It’s the equivalent of being kissed,” said Dr. Karen Becker.
It seems that your cat is not that serious or rude, right? They love you just like dogs or other animals, so stop believing all the myths about felines.
“Slowly blinking at you is a sign of pure love, and it’s often even referred to as a ‘kitty kiss.’ When other cats are around, you may see your cat slow blinking a lot. This is to let the other cats know that everything is cool,” Hickman said.
They show you their tummy
You should know that a cat’s tummy is considered a vulnerable area and it won’t do it often unless it loves you. Cats show their belly to creatures that they really trust and when they feel comfortable, so you are lucky if your cat shows you its little stomach. But if you do not know the cat well then try to stay away from petting its belly because it can become aggressive.
According to IHeartCats.com, “Like most animals, cats do not show their stomachs to just anyone. If your cat rolls over on its back to give you a flash of that fuzzy belly, this is an indication that they feel comfortable around you. Not only this, but they feel loved and protected by you, rendering themselves defenseless while on their backs.”
Its tail is always curving at the tip
If you do not know what are the feelings of your feline for you then all you have to do is to look at its tail and if it is always curving at the tip it means that your cat is really happy around you.
In an essay Ask a Behaviorist: How Do Cats Show Affection to People?, Catster writes, “Kitties express happiness and warm feelings by fluffing out the base of their tails while subtly quivering them. Simultaneously, they hold their tails upright with a slight curve at the top. [the tail curve] is sometimes called the happy tail dance.”
Your cat nibbles you a lot
Another way cats show their affection is nibbling or soft biting. So, if your cat loves you it will bite you, but it does not have to hurt.
According to Dr. Karen Becker, “This show of love from your kitty can prove to be a bit painful… [but] your cat really doesn’t understand her love bite isn’t always pleasant for you. Kitties nip each other affectionately, and their skin is tougher than ours.”
In addition, studies have shown that owning a cat can actually lower your stress and anxiety levels and can also lower your risk of heart disease. Moreover, several studies in the UK have found that people who sleep with their cats are much more rested than those who do not sleep with a pet in the room.
They are rubbing against your legs
Isn’t it amazing to know all the things about an animal’s behavior? It is really interesting to see how animals express their emotions and feelings for their owner or other creatures as well. For instance, some of them do weird and strange things to catch your attention and to tell you that they are really comfortable in your house, others show their love and appreciation in so many different but funny ways, and in fact, all these behaviors reflect the same meanings.
“Rubbing against another creature is how cats show affection. If your kitty rubs up against your leg… he’s putting his scent on you as a way of claiming you as his own. It’s important to your relationship and bond with your cat to allow him to rub against you,” said Dr. Becker.
While you are self isolated at home you could pay more attention to the body language of your pet and try to spend as much time as possible together. Do not forget that pets can help you ease symptoms of depression, anxiety, stress and other mental diseases and we all need to stay calm during the coronavirus pandemic. Also, if you take care of an animal these days, you will take the focus away from your problems, especially if you live alone.
Purring is a common way of showing their affection
As you already know, purring is a good barometer that indicates that your cat likes to have you around. It seems that cats purr only for creatures they really adore.
In case you did not know this before, a cat purring can help heal bones, tendons and muscles. It sounds incredible, right? Well, it seems that – in addition to showing that your cat is happy and comfortable – the sound is also associated with the healing therapy among people. To be more specific, the cat purring emits vibrations at a frequency of 20-140 HZ, which means that it has a positive effect on helping people to relax.
According to certified expert Amy Shojai, “Cats love with purrs. Her purrs can mean a variety of things, from delight to expressions of concern. And kitty purrs range from soft and subtle to Mack-truck loud. When your cat purrs in your presence, you can be sure she’s expressing her love for you.”
Your cat follows you around constantly
Does your cat watch you when you eat or come with you into the bathroom? Does it follow you around constantly? If yes, you are probably its favorite person.
According to the Mother Nature Network, “If your feline friend follows you from room to room, jumps onto tables and counters to be near you, and always seems to be right where you step, she clearly enjoys your company.”
Nevertheless, they could follow you to the bathroom because they want to feel safe. “So when you disappear behind a closed door, they might feel less safe than normal and as such seek you out to continue to take advantage of the comfort and safety you provide them. When there is competition for a resource, its value increases. That is what you do every time you close the bathroom door. You elevate the value of the space by choosing it for yourself and denying your cat access,” explains Meowingtons.
Cats claw at their owner’s face to wake them
Isn’t it cute when your cat wakes you up because it missed you? If you do not play and ignore your cat all day, it will sleep all the time, which makes them more vulnerable and active at night. But if they claw at your face to wake you in the morning it does not mean that they are bored or hungry, but they want to show you affection as well.
“Most cat owners note that this happens at the same time of the morning, so rather than being a sign of affection it is the cat’s natural instinct to be fed. Cats have a very accurate internal clock and pick up indicators of the time of day,” said Clare Hamilton, a vet at the animal hospital Hamilton Specialist Referrals.
If your cat loves to drinks from your cups it means that it likes you
Well, cats love fresh water, as we do, but they like to drink it from your glass as well because they adore you! They usually drink from your cups because they feel safe and comfortable. “Fresh water is important for cats so it’s important to change the water in the bowl daily,” Cummings said.
“If cats have to drink when it is against the wall, then their backs are exposed to the ‘scary’ rest of the house,” he said. “Putting the bowl a little in front of the wall means the cat can position themselves between the wall and the bowl with their back to the wall and being able to look out on the scary expanse of the room whilst drinking.”
Moreover, if your cat cleans in front of you it means that it feels comfortable around you. “Female cats like to ‘flash’ their private parts and wiggle their bums at their owners,” she said. “This is just one way that cats show that they care for their owners and is a strong sign of affection.”
If they do not use the litter box…
Unfortunately, this behavior does not indicate that your cat is attached to you, but it can show that something is wrong with your cat. Maybe your cat has a medical problem, such as urinary tract infection, and in this case, you should talk with your veterinarian. Your cat can be stressed as well when it does not use the litter box, so try not to punish it. They will use the litter box again when you solve the problem, so d not worry about that.
“Either there is a problem with the latrine site (litter tray area), the cat is feeling stressed, or both,” said Cummings. “So as much as it sucks for us, it’s probably a bigger problem for the cat.”
“They use this technique to send a message to other animals that they own their property and not to disturb,” she said. “This can be seen as a way of showing affection as the cat feels secure in their household and with their owners.”